Herpes is spreads through direct skin on skin contact. Unlike the flu virus that is spreadable through the air the herpes virus is spread only through direct contact from the site of the herpes infection to the site of the other person’s skin contact with the infection point.

For an example, if you have a cold sore and you kiss someone you’re possibly transferring the virus to their mouth. The same goes for genital herpes and you have either anal or vaginal intercourse. The other spread way is, say you have a cold sore and you give oral sex to your partner you can then spread the herpes virus to their genitals. ANY infected skin to unaffected skin contact can spread the virus.

When Is Herpes Most Likely To Be Spread?

The herpes virus is spread the most easily while sores are present but the virus can be spread at other points too. There are some people that are going to notice things like:

• Itching
• Tingling
• Other sensations

They’ll feel these things before they ever get anything on their skin, called a prodromal symptom(s). What they do is warn that there could be the virus on the skin. Herpes can be spread through the time that the symptoms appear for the first time through the outbreak and until the area is completely healed and the skin is back to looking normal. Having any sexual contact at all during this time, oral, anal or vaginal is extremely risky during this time.

Can Herpes Be Transmitted Without Symptoms?

The simple answer is yes.

The people that don’t know they are infected are the ones that spread their virus between an outbreak and there are no signs or symptoms present. These are called asymptomatic transmissions. Most often they are spread through people that have no idea they’re even infected at all. The people could have symptoms but ones that are so mild that they have no notice to them at all or simply don’t recognize it as being herpes.
Almost all new infections of genital herpes are from those that are asymptomatic shedders of the herpes virus.

Are complications possible?

One of the kinds of complications comes from the virus spreading from the outbreak location to another place on the body through touching the sore. Things like your fingers, eyes and other body areas can become infected accidentally through this way. Infection prevention is easy though. Simply don’t touch the area through this outbreak period. If you touch an area that’s infected immediately wash your hands as the virus can be killed easily through using just soap and water.

Can herpes cause AIDS?

The herpes simplex virus, HSV1 or HSV2 isn’t related to the HIV virus in any way. Someone that carries the herpes virus though is more susceptible to infection with HIV though if they have sex with someone with the virus. Only in that way is someone with herpes likely to get HIV which is the cause of aids.